Cisco launches IoT System for enterprise and smart cities

Networking kingpin Cisco has moved to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the internet of things (IoT) by launching 15 products under the banner of the Cisco IoT System.

Ciscos own forecasts claim that despite being on course to see 50 billion devices and objects connected to the internet of things by 2020, at present 99% of things are not connected.

It said the wave of digitisation set to take place over the next five years would introduce unprecedented levels of complexity, and enterprises would struggle to realise the value of the IoT without the application of advanced data analytics and the introduction of ever more intelligent applications.

Cisco said its IoT System would address this complexity with an infrastructure that was designed to manage large-scale systems of diverse endpoints and platforms, and the data deluge they create.Six pillars

IoT System is based around six technology elements, or pillars, which Cisco sees as critical to the success of the IoT. These are:

Network Connectivity Comprising purpose-built routing, switching and wireless products, ruggedised if necessary. Fog Computing A distributed IoT computing infrastructure that extends compute and by definition, therefore, data analytics to the network edge, enabling customers to analyse and manage data with more immediacy. Security Unifying cyber and physical security and incorporating Ciscos IP surveillance portfolio and network products with TrustSec security and cloud/cyber security products to allow users to monitor, detect and respond to IT and operational technology attacks. Data Analytics An optimised infrastructure to implement analytics and harness data for Ciscos own Connected Analytics product and third-party software. Management and Automation Providing enhanced security, control and support for multiple functions to deliver a system that can better manage the increasing volume of endpoints and apps. Application Enablement Platform A set of application programming interfaces (APIs) for industries, city government, ecosystem partners and other developers to build their own apps on the IoT System foundation.

Among the products being rolled out by Cisco are IoT switches, wireless access points and industrial routers, a line of internet protocol surveillance cameras and physical security analytics products, and a package of services around Fog Computing.

The IoT System provides a comprehensive set of IoT technologies and products that simplify and accelerate the deployment of infrastructure for the IoT, said Ciscos vice-president and general manager of the IoT Systems and Software Group, Kip Compton.

Doug Davis, senior vice-president and general manager of Intels IoT Group which assisted in the development of the IoT System added: IoT is a significant opportunity, but one that needs interoperability and scale to fulfil industry predictions of billions of connected devices.

The IoT pillars serve as a strong foundation for companies to build IoT solutions that can be seamlessly interconnected and achieve the scale that delivers the value promised, he added.Multiple verticals

Cisco is pitching the IoT System at verticals such as manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, transport, public safety and smart cities.

Additionally, a number of software houses are already porting their software applications to run on the Fog Computing system, including General Electrics Predix industrial internet cloud platform, and Itron, which has brought across its Riva distributed intelligence platform.